Barcalo Buffalo Tools

[d42jeep]

Added some Barcalo dykes to complete the set. Too bad I didn’t have any with the polished face that were the right vintage.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

I don't think I've ever seen a pair of polished diagonal cutters or linesman pliers - ever - in any brand.

That set is fabulous even missing the tool that went into that slot.

 

[d42jeep]

I don't think I've ever seen a pair of polished diagonal cutters or linesman pliers - ever - in any brand.

That set is fabulous even missing the tool that went into that slot.

Thanks, BK! I think the pair that might have come with the set had dark handles with just the faces polished. I have an earlier pair that are polished in this roll.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I’ve found some unusual Barcalo tools lately and this #4 Phillips driver arrived yesterday. Barcalo screwdrivers are not something I normally see. Judging by the handle design, it looks to me like it was sourced from Xcelite.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

Just a wild guess, but I don't think the people who were stamping out wrenches and sockets were really much into the screwdriver making business.... it's a different ball of wax (or can of worms, as the case may be.)

I think a lot of them were outsourced by a lot of outfits, along with nutdrivers. From eyeballing so many examples I think VACO and Xcelite were big OE suppliers.

Again, just a wild guess. No way to verify it - I've contacted both Klein and Apex trying to get any information they might have been able to provide and just hit a wall.

 

[Jazz1]

I see plenty of Barcalo wrenches at Restore. All SAE so not being a collector I leave them there.

 

[d42jeep]

-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I took a picture of my Barcalo tool rolls yesterday.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Since I had accumulated the necessary offset DBE wrenches, I updated this roll to match the image sent to me by Tin Medic from his ‘60 Barcalo catalog.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

Speaking of Tin Medic, he generously sent this large contribution to the Barcalo shrine. It was only missing three wrenches which I had so it is now all cleaned up and complete.
Thanks again, Tin!
-Don

 

[misterbill]

I love to see when a set like this reunites - especially if it's in an original roll or box. Nice collaboration Tin and Don!

Bill

 

[d42jeep]

My wife spotted this cad plated Barcalo tack puller at a Berkeley estate sale yesterday. This is my second one, the first one was sent to me by Twertsy.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That will come in handy when you decide to reupholster the Barca-Lounger!

 

[3baygarage]

That will come in handy when you decide to reupholster the Barca-Lounger!

Those are one of the more popular tools I saw around town. Seems every good old tool estate sale has one. Now Don’s kitchen tool, that’s another story.

 

[3baygarage]

I posted most of these in the factory flaw thread, maybe some here too, but here are some seconds and lunch box pieces in a group Don. Ignore the three Williams wrenches at the bottom of the first pic.

 

[3baygarage]

....

 

[3baygarage]

Pics

 

[d42jeep]

Wow! I’ve only got a couple of second marked wrenches but I have a few that easily could have been. It’s kind of surprising that they just didn’t melt them down and start over although during the war they were probably not that worried about quality control.
-Don

 

[3baygarage]

There are so many out there, have to wonder if employees were allowed to just take whatever was junk.

 

[d42jeep]

My Barcalo wrench board arrived in the mail today. Thanks, Dave and Rick! I can’t wait to find a spot to hang it and fill it up with wrenches.
-Don

 

[RubiconJK]

My Barcalo wrench board arrived in the mail today. Thanks, Dave and Rick! I can’t wait to find a spot to hang it and fill it up with wrenches.
-Don

Eager to see the filled up pic!

 

[d42jeep]

Here you go.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Nice. I have couple on order...

 

[RubiconJK]

Here you go.
-Don

That looks great!

 

[d42jeep]

Thanks, guys. It took a little while to figure out which style of wrench was correct for the board. It could use a bit of fine tuning but I’m happy with how it came out.
-Don

 

[RubiconJK]

Don I thought about you when I picked up this jewel this morning at an estate sale and wondered if you had one. The marking is hard to read, but I believe it says Barcalo Buffalo USA Pat Pen and a number. After looking on AA I found the same wrench which shows Pat No 1870612 issued in 1932 and is said to be shown in the 1934 catalog as a Ford Utility Multi Wrench. AA says it fits 15 different service parts on Ford models "A", "B", and V-8, including spark plugs, brakes, and drain plugs.
Edit: I see that 3bay posted about his same wrench at this link:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6778145&postcount=52

 

[d42jeep]

Don I thought about you when I picked up this jewel this morning at an estate sale and wondered if you had one. The marking is hard to read, but I believe it says Barcalo Buffalo USA Pat Pen and a number. After looking on AA I found the same wrench which shows Pat No 1870612 issued in 1932 and is said to be shown in the 1934 catalog as a Ford Utility Multi Wrench. AA says it fits 15 different service parts on Ford models "A", "B", and V-8, including spark plugs, brakes, and drain plugs.
Edit: I see that 3bay posted about his same wrench at this link:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6778145&postcount=52

I don’t have that one. I should have had one for the 1929 Model A I had back in high school.
-Don

 

[RubiconJK]

I don’t have that one. I should have had one for the 1929 Model A I had back in high school.
-Don

I'll email you about getting it headed your direction.

 

[d42jeep]

I'll email you about getting it headed your direction.

Thanks. Another addition to the Barcalo shrine!
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

The Ford wrench that RubiconJK generously donated to the Barcalo shrine arrived and has spent quite a bit of time in the Evaporust bath. Considering it’s age, it is in pretty good condition. Here are some before, during and after pictures along with patent info and the listing from AA.
-Don

 

[RubiconJK]

The Ford wrench that RubiconJK generously donated to the Barcalo shrine arrived and has spent quite a bit of time in the Evaporust bath. Considering it’s age, it is in pretty good condition. Here are some before, during and after pictures along with patent info and the listing from AA.
-Don

Looks great!

 

[d42jeep]

I had occasion today to do some reorganization of my Barcalo tools and took the opportunity to take some pictures. Recently one of the unmarked geometric design DOEs was posted so I took a picture of mine. The upper group is Barcalo marked and the lower group is unmarked. The second picture is of Barcaloy marked combination wrenches. The third picture is of what Barcalo called “Double Grip” DOE wrenches. The next two are pipe wrenches and auto wrenches. The last two are of two different styles of adjustable wrenches. On the bottom of the last picture is a Barcalo adjustable obviously made by Danielson, the only one of those I’ve seen.
-Don

 

[Shelbylex]

... and after more education from 3baygarage, oldtuleguy and d42jeep I got more Buffalo Barcalo tools today. Need to eventually get marked 13/16 - 7/8, 1/2 - 9/16, 3/8-7/16

This is my geometric Buffalo Barcalo - will have to look up couple of others I have and add them later...

 

[Shelbylex]

Found 2 more. Please disregard Bonney

 

[d42jeep]

Here are my Barcalo finds at a Hayward, CA estate sale this morning. I cleaned up the tool roll and added the missing pieces.
-Don

 

[rickhigginshtbr]

Jeep i love that set, I have a similar roll to post up eventually

 

[Shelbylex]

Well, as BFBOB and Jeep shared some of their great finds with us and made me look for there wrenches due to their interesting design, I got lucky and found this little one (had to partially clean it so you could see it)

5/16-11/32

 

[Provincial]

I passed on one that size in the Restore the other day. I haven't gone that far down the Barcalo rabbit hole. Yet!

 

[d42jeep]

I passed on one that size in the Restore the other day. I haven't gone that far down the Barcalo rabbit hole. Yet!

I’m at the bottom of that rabbit hole and don’t look to be climbing out anytime soon.
-Don

 

[rickhigginshtbr]

Finally took some pics of my one Barcalo roll






Don’t think this roll was ever really used at all. Everything is nearly mint condition.


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